The weather closed in over the weekend and almost completely decimated the schools rugby calendar.
Of 22 previewed 1st XV fixtures, only three survived. The Shiplake 7s, at Shiplake College, and South Coast 7s at Portsmouth Grammar School both fell by the wayside. It was as good an advert for moving the shortened form of the game as there could possibly be.
The question has to be asked, why are we wedded to playing 7s in mid-winter? Is there any genuine reason why 7s could not and should not be played in the summer term? Tournaments would go ahead, the game would be played on pitches and in conditions conducive to good sevens, and players would be available as it would not clash with representative rugby.
What possible reason is there for any opposition to it?
To those three fifteen-a-side games that did go ahead, the headline game was probably that between two legends of the Schools Cup, RGS High Wycombe and St Benedict’s. The junior games were all called off but the seniors moved to Grasshoppers and went ahead, and just as well for St Benedict’s who played excellently for a 30-10 victory.
Bishop Vesey’s stunning run of form came to an end on Saturday thanks to an excellent shift from Welbeck who gave their home crowd plenty to cheer with a 26-17 victory. Repton, meanwhile, continue to impress. They beat Oswestry 12-0.
There was one tournament that did manage to go ahead on Sunday, the Trent 10s at Trent College.
Trent College welcomed Oakham, King’s Worcester, Stamford, Nottingham High School, Leicester Grammar School, and Wisbech Grammar School for their 3rd annual 10s tournament.
A cracking occasion ensued, with local rivals Oakham and Stamford meeting in the final. Oakham won out in the end to claim their first silverware of the season, sending them into the 7s season bubbling with confidence. Let’s hope the weather steers clear.
A reminder that we welcome any photos, videos, and reports from your
school’s games – the more the merrier! You can send them in to us via any of the methods below:
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Schools Rugby Results:
Saturday 2nd February:
Repton 12-0 Oswestry
St Benedict’s 30-10 RGS High Wycombe
Welbeck 26-17 Bishop Vesey’s GS
Sunday 3rd February – Trent College 10s
Champions – Oakham
